Glitter jars and Growing Minds
Last week sixty lively Cub Scouts from 19th Hendon (3rd Mill Hill) Scout Group, aged eight to ten, took part in a hands on workshop to earn their Scout Money Badge.
The session was planned and delivered by sixth form Explorer Scout, King Louis who used the Wealth Angels MoneyWise Smart Sage materials as a starting point and then adapted them to suit the energy and attention of the Cub Scouts. To make the day celebratory the Explorers introduced glitter jars as a visual way to mark learning.
The result was a joyful and practical learning experience that the Cub Scouts rated as "100 out of 10!"
"I liked putting glitter in my jar, it felt like my money was sparkling." 9 year old Cub Scout at 19th Hendon (3rd Mill Hill)
Money classes matter
Financial education matters because it builds confidence and practical habits that last. Teaching money concepts at a young age helps children understand choices and consequences long before they face bigger financial decisions. For this age group games craft and short decision tasks are far more effective than lectures.
The Explorers understand that and designed activities that were simple memorable and fun. By working with the material they also strengthened their own money management skills ahead of work or University education. Their proximity in age also makes them excellent role models. Watching slightly older young people lead the session showed the Cub Scouts a tangible path from taking part to leading others.
The workshop was organised as a series of short sessions delivered over three meetings that kept the Cub Scouts engaged. One session introduced the basics of money so that the children could define basic finance terms and understand the difference between spending and saving. Another session focused on budgeting covering simple needs and wants. The glitter jars session asked each Cub Scout to transfer their learnings into sparkle. They filled their jars with the four different type of money goals that they had budgeted for in the previous meetings. Seeing the jar fill up with sparkle turned an abstract idea into a concrete achievement that they could all take home.
Learning outcomes achieved
The Cub Scouts learned to identify the difference between needs and wants and to explain in simple terms why saving is useful for reaching larger goals. The glitter jars made saving visible which increased motivation and made the idea of progressing towards a target easy to understand. The Explorers modelled responsibility and communication skills, showing that leadership is something young people can practise. The informal feedback was enthusiastic and all the children gave feedback which illustrated how the session goals were met and they had fun in the process.
Developing leadership in young people
The choice to have the session led by Explorer Scouts made a significant difference. The explorers are close in age to the Cub Scouts and they delivered the material with energy and language that matched the group. They took the Smart Sage worksheets and simplified some tasks then added playful elements which kept everyone actively involved. Leading the session also provided valuable experience for the Explorers themselves. Preparing and teaching a workshop develops planning communication and empathy skills and reinforces the explorers own financial thinking.
"Seeing sixty Cub Scouts engage so enthusiastically in money skills led by our young leaders was fantastic. The sessions blended values skills and fun exactly what Scouting is about." Bosun, Group Lead Volunteer of 19th Hendon (3rd Mill Hill) Scout Group
Replication for your youth group
Running this kind of session is straightforward to replicate. Near peer leaders such as Explorer Scouts connect well with younger members and offer both inspiration and practical support. A visible savings tool like jars or a token system turns progress into a habit cue that children can understand and enjoy.
Keeping activities short active and varied helps maintain attention for eight to ten year olds. Starting with a structured resource such as the Wealth Angels MoneyWise guide and allowing young leaders to adapt language and pacing makes the material both accurate and age appropriate. It is important to plan permissions early so that photos and quotes can be used with confidence and respect for privacy.
Money basics achieved
The day left a positive impression on everyone involved. The Cub Scouts left smiling with glitter on their hands and a new language for talking about money. The Explorers gained leadership experience and the adult leaders confirmed the value of using youth led delivery for practical life skills.
If you run a youth group and would like access to the session plan with glitter jar instruction, please contact us.